Age of Conquest Reborn

Chapter 451 A major concession?

The position where Tang Qiuli is currently standing is only about two kilometers away from the Eighth Army's position on the first line of defense. Due to the telescopic lens, everything is in view. There are no soldiers busy building fortifications on the position.

They were either napping there or gathering around to smoke. The barbed wire fence on the beach was swaying slightly under the wash of the sea water. He was sure that if he pushed it with his foot, it would fall down immediately.

Field fortifications are not systematic at all. There are many areas where a trench is simply dug in the ground. The trench is shallow. If you lay your head down, half of your buttocks can be exposed. It is estimated that you can't even hide your body. Bunkers and concealment departments have built it.

, it can collapse as soon as you sit on it. In Tang Qiuli's words, even a doghouse is stronger than this. Zhang Fakui is also a veteran, so why doesn't he know the actual situation of the army's preparations for war?

The soldiers were lazily wandering in the trenches with their collars half open, guns slanted across their shoulders, cigarettes in their mouths. Such troops and fortifications, when faced with the wasp-like Japanese army, could not even fight for a round.

Unable to resist, he became angrier as he looked and handed the binoculars to Brother Qiu Sheng.

Although I had a general understanding of the troops of the Eighth Army and knew that they were not very good, I never expected that they would reach this level. I really don’t know what the old man thought, putting these patchwork troops into such an important position.

In their position, even if they brought 100,000 bricks, they could hold off the Japanese troops for a while, and at least they could defeat the little Japanese. But they looked like they were so frightened that they wouldn't even fire their rifles when they saw the Japanese soldiers charging towards them?

Tang Qiusheng knew what the other side looked like without looking at it. He had been neighbors with those stragglers for more than twenty days. The soldiers here were busy building fortifications every day. They even shouted strange words and were enjoying themselves every day.

, Xiao'er drank wine and smoked cigarettes, and understood the reason for Xiao Qiu's bad expression. He could only smile helplessly. He also told the other teacher about this situation.

Who knows, if the boss is not happy, he might say something unpleasant if it is not because he is one level higher in military rank than him? In addition, the army of the Nationalist Government is inherently different, and the Japanese are not all the same.

You are a family of doctors. You have your standards, and we have our habits. The only thing I can say is, dogs are meddling in other people's business.

Tang Qiuli didn't mean to blame Brother Qiu Sheng and Chang Feng. After all, the two armies were not affiliated with each other. Zhang Fakui may be said to be headstrong or have backward tactical concepts. Anyway, the Sulu Mobile Corps was behind him and he was not worried.

Comfortable. In fact, the troops under his control were temporarily formed to protect the flanks of the Songhu battlefield. They belonged to several factions and each had their own hills. This gave him a headache and he could not enforce orders and prohibitions.

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When Tang Qiuli saw the Eighth Army in this state, he knew that Chairman Chiang's decision to let them take charge of the defense of Hangzhou Bay was definitely a wrong decision. Not only would these soldiers not be effective, they would bring serious consequences to his own troops.

As a result, once the Japanese troops landed and began to attack, these broken troops would disrupt the blocking formation of Qiu Shengge's troops.

What's even more serious is that the defensive frontier of the Sulu Mobile Corps was covered with mines. These defeated troops retreated and panicked. They didn't know where to run easily. Instead, they acted as the vanguard of the Japanese, marching through the minefields.

It was clean and helped the Japanese army a lot. Even if they were told about the safe passage in advance, when the time came, they would be beaten by the Japanese and unable to find their way around. How could they still remember it?

Tang Qiuli smiled bitterly at Brother Qiu Sheng and Chang Feng, and told them to remove all the minefields on the main passages along the front. Chang Feng was stunned. This was his hard work. Based on the actual experience of the peripheral battle in Shanghai, the minefields carefully arranged

He fought with the Japanese army for more than ten days and figured out the Japanese attack routes, which were minefields set up according to their characteristics.

The commander's words made the soldiers' efforts for several days wasted. He couldn't figure it out, so he didn't simply execute the order. Tang Qiusheng understood his inner thoughts from Tang Qiuli's wry smile, and he also smiled wryly.

When I got up, I saw Chang Feng's reluctant look and pouted in the direction of the 8th Army on the opposite side.

Chang Feng suddenly realized, and his face turned red with anger. These guys were just adding to the chaos, and their idea of ​​using a large number of landmines to make the Japanese suffer was in vain. He felt very unhappy.

Tang Qiuli stayed in Hangzhou Bay for two days. Before leaving, he quietly told Qiu Sheng that he secretly deployed three infantry brigades and a heavy artillery regiment to the Baimaokou area in Taicang, Jiangsu. Historically, that

It was a secondary landing site for Japanese troops.

Although Tang Qiusheng did not know the true intention of the division commander, he still fully implemented his order and immediately transferred two brigades with rich experience from fighting the Japanese army for more than ten days in the outer defensive positions of Shanghai and a brigade that defended in Hangzhou Bay.

The heavy artillery regiment that had just been replenished from the Taihang Mountains was recruited to form a garrison headquarters in Taicang, Jiangsu Province. Chang Feng was appointed as the commander-in-chief and immediately went to Taicang, Jiangsu Province to set up defenses.

A group of personnel were also transferred from various departments of the Corps Headquarters to form the Taicang Garrison Headquarters. They set off before the large troops to survey the terrain, understand the people's conditions, divide defense zones, and prepare strategic materials. This historical opportunity gave Chang Feng another unique opportunity.

There is a chance to block it, but the pressure this time is much lighter than the last time.

Tang Qiuli had a thorough understanding of the situation in Hangzhou Bay, which made him feel relieved. Brother Qiu Sheng's commanding ability and Chang Feng's were a competent chief of staff. The morale of the troops and the combat effectiveness of the soldiers were second to none.

Coupled with careful preparations, the southern front allowed him to rest assured while focusing on the Japanese forces in North China.

The only thing that gave him a headache was Zhang Fakui's Eighth Army. Those stragglers were wandering around Hangzhou Bay and could only add to the chaos. On the day he returned to Nanjing, he called Chairman Chiang and asked for the release of the Eighth Army.

It is used as a second-line blocking force behind the Sulu Mobile Corps.

The reason is that the Eighth Army's defensive position is too far forward and is extremely vulnerable to the firepower of Japanese naval guns. In fact, it is afraid that these miscellaneous troops and security regiment troops will collapse at the first touch, which will affect the firepower advantage of their own troops. If the Japanese army chases them away,

If you chase them by the buttocks, how can you still fire?

Chairman Chiang pondered for a while without making a clear statement. Tang Qiuli put his direct troops in the leading position. It was obvious that he did not have any selfish thoughts. The old man did not reject it outright. He just replied that entering would be detrimental to the entire Songhu area.

The defense system will be adjusted as a whole, and Qiu Li's suggestions will be given priority.

Tang Qiuli felt sulky. What did the old man mean? Did he think the world was at peace, or was he afraid of taking credit for himself? Zhang Fakui called in person, with a very calm tone. He thanked Vice Chairman Tang for his concern for the Eighth Army.

Confident in shouldering the great trust of the Military Commission, Tang Qiuli hung up the phone before he could say anything.

Tang Qiuli became more and more depressed. With your soldiers and fortifications, how could you stop the Japanese? Even Zhang Fakui didn’t go to the front line to see with his own eyes. His big words couldn’t be used as cannons. Mei Ting came in and saw her husband there.

He was circling back and forth in the room with an angry look on his face, which meant that he had encountered something unsatisfactory again.

In fact, Tang Qiuli was observing the Eighth Army's position, and Zhang Fakui also received a report that there was a particularly young general who was watching our position for a long time. Then, for some reason, the troops behind him...

When Zhang Fakui raised the buried mine again, he understood immediately that this must be Tang Qiuli. There was no such young general in the entire country.

Later, Chairman Jiang told Tang Qiuli's suggestion tactfully. Zhang Fakui was very angry. As a soldier, he was most afraid of being looked down upon by other generals. After calling Tang Qiuli, he immediately convened a meeting of all unit commanders.

, strictly arranged combat preparation tasks. Under his pressure, the Eighth Army's fortifications finally began to take shape, but they were not even close to the actual combat requirements.

On October 9, the second round of Sino-Japanese negotiations began again. Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Konohashi came up with Japan’s revised conditions, which this time included North China. The specific content was that in North China, China and Japan

The army will implement an on-the-spot ceasefire, taking the existing Japanese-occupied area as the boundary and extending for 30 kilometers as a demilitarized zone. Neither China nor Japan is allowed to station troops.

In order to ensure the realization of the armistice in North China, the Japanese side will gradually withdraw its troops and eventually retain about 400,000 troops. In contrast, all Chinese troops should withdraw from Hebei Province and at the same time abrogate the Tanggu Agreement and Ho Mei

All previously signed agreements, such as the Doihara-Kin Dechun Agreement, etc., shall be subject to the newly signed agreement as the standard for implementation by both parties.

Regarding Shanghai, the Japanese side no longer demands the return of the original Marine Corps bases stationed in Hongkou and Yangshupu in Shanghai. The remaining troops dispatched to Shanghai will be withdrawn to the Japanese mainland in mid-November. The Japanese Third Fleet will also be withdrawn in mid-November.

On the mainland, Shanghai and surrounding areas are designated as demilitarized zones, and neither China nor Japan is allowed to station troops.

The Japanese side retains a police force of 3,000 people in the Japanese Concession to maintain the security of the concession. Correspondingly, the Chinese police force in Shanghai must not exceed 3,000 people. At the same time, the "Songhu Shanghai" law has been abolished.

Armistice Agreement", with the newly signed agreement as the standard for implementation by both parties.

Japan recognizes that Inner Mongolia and Suiyuan are under the direct rule of the National Government. Japan will no longer interfere in Mongolia-Suiyuan affairs. Shanghai is a special city of the Republic of China and enjoys administrative and customs management rights. At the same time, the government of the Republic of China

Manchukuo in the Northeast recognized or acquiesced.

In order to express its sincerity in the negotiations, the Japanese side is willing to conclude a Sino-Japanese Anti-Communist Agreement with the Nationalist Government to jointly prevent the spread of communism in China and Asia, and sign the Hebei Economic Agreement to jointly promote the economic development of Hebei. In addition, the Japanese side is considering launching an anti-communist agreement with China.

Economic assistance and the abolition of some extraterritorial jurisdictions, etc.

The plan put forward by the Japanese this time is completely different from the one three days ago. Judging from the content, the Japanese side has made major concessions, especially in Shanghai. In addition to insisting on retaining the police force,

Almost completely agreed to the conditions proposed by China.

Wang Chonghui pushed up his glasses. He couldn't believe it. Is this still Japanese?

(To be continued)